"They estimated $44 million on the track, (and) it came in, the low bid came in $71 million – $26 million over budget," said mayoral candidate John Cranley. "It shows incompetence."

Combined with other potential changes, the higher construction costs for tracks and stations could push the price tag for the project to at least $130 million.

"I and many citizens have always said that this project could not be completed at the $110 million price point," City Councilman Chris Smitherman wrote to the city manager. "Your office does not have authorization to spend any more money beyond the $110 million without bringing it back to City Council for a vote."

City Manager Milton Dohoney didn't rule out the possibility of asking for new bids.

"We do not, are not in the position to do a $200 million project, so in the instance, in the past where we have bids that are over what we expect, sometimes it calls for rebidding, sometimes to calls for adjusting. It just depends," Dohoney said.

It's the latest hurdle for efforts to move forward with the downtown streetcar, including two ballot measures drafted by opponents to do away with the project. Both measures ultimately failed.

The 3.6-mile project will link popular spots throughout the city's downtown and riverfront areas with the Over-the-Rhine historic district.

City Council will decide by the end of the month whether to lease the city's 5,700 parking meters to a private company, which could add $80 million to $100 million to the budget.

City officials haven't said whether any of that money would be used to offset higher bids on the streetcar project.